Twenty-something Millennial generation logging equipment operators from Miller Timber Services in Philomath, Ore. told their story at Oregon Logging Conference in Eugene, Ore. on Feb. 22-24. More than 400 local Oregon high school students attended the first Future Forestry Workers Career Day during the OLC. Kacie Hillery, a 22-year-old recent grad of Washington State University, and Brayden Anderson, 23, both work in Miller’s CTL division. Hillery operates a Ponsse forwarder and Anderson runs a Ponsse harvester.

Hillery, an environmental sciences grad, said she was looking for something different to do. Part of her message was to never sell yourself short. “This is something I never imagined I could do but I can, and it’s also a job that women can perform like men,” she said. Anderson, who started with Miller out of high school, operated a forwarder at first but has been on the harvester two years now. His message to the students was these kinds of jobs are huge opportunities. “I tried to open their eyes that this is a real opportunity to work, and the technology is neat.”

Networking

OLC Manager Rikki Wellman noted that more than 20 high schools participated in the event. Students learned about current and future job opportunities andt the skills required for each job. Students also were able to visit one-on-one with industry professionals in a separate hall. This allowed students to network with potential future employers.